Which Team Will Win The S15 and Why?

[The_Brown_Hornet]

I went to and fro on the Bulls, Paarl. They can certainly still make it, but they'll have to get through the Shorks twice. That'll be a tough ask I reckon. Their fairly poor tour of Australasia cost them.

 

[PaarlBok]

I went to and fro on the Bulls, Paarl. They can certainly still make it, but they'll have to get through the Shorks twice. That'll be a tough ask I reckon. Their fairly poor tour of Australasia cost them.

Expecting them to beat the Sharks twice. Sharks also have to play the Tin Ears in Osfontein, usually where their wheels come off ever so often.

The Stormers season will be make or break on tour. 4 Tough matches coming up for them and if they can tour successfull , they would make the business end. We cant loose more then 2 if we want to stay at the top of our conferense.Plus their tour start with a big one against the Chiefs, the the top of the table clash vs the Blues and then the Aus two. Double points every single match for them.

 

[Ali's Choice]

Dont count the Brutes out just yet. They have this unique way of snick in the business end and have the cattle to win the important ones. They did it for many a year in the CC, they did it in S14 rugby in their first win and are about to do this in the Vodacom Cup. Just have the feel they will start their run just about from now.

I agree that no-one should write off a great team like the Bulls. But I simply cannot see them winning the title. One of the main reasons is their reliance on a few aging players who are arguably past their best. That, and the hunger looks gone, as is to be expected from a team which has won three titles in four seasons.

 

[Blue]

Dont count the Brutes out just yet. They have this unique way of snick in the business end and have the cattle to win the important ones. They did it for many a year in the CC, they did it in S14 rugby in their first win and are about to do this in the Vodacom Cup. Just have the feel they will start their run just about from now.

We'll have a run alright but I think away to the Sharks will be what sinks our hopes and we'll come up short. At least I will be able to say I predicted it but that's a small consolation.

 

[Reddy!]

I think it's very premature saying the Crusaders will win the title. The Crusaders still have to play the Reds at Suncorp. The Reds thumped the Crusaders there last year. I have high hopes for this year. If the Reds secure a home final, Suncorp is going to be fucking packed and the Reds will be another animal altogether.

 

[Slim 293]

The Crusaders definitely missed McCaw last year when they played the Reds...

But depending on what team the Saders roll out they can really give the Reds forwards a good thumping...

 

[cyclopath]

I think it's very premature saying the Crusaders will win the title. The Crusaders still have to play the Reds at Suncorp. The Reds thumped the Crusaders there last year. I have high hopes for this year. If the Reds secure a home final, Suncorp is going to be fucking packed and the Reds will be another animal altogether.

I suspect those picking the Crusaders are aware they have to play the Reds when they cast their opinion. If there is a team in this competition that seems less fazed by winning away, it has been the Crusaders. I am looking forward to that game - ought to be a cracker.

 

[Victorian Reds Fan]

Crusaders.
They are a true team, rather than a collection of stars, who clearly know how to play for each other as evidenced by their superb performance on the weekend.
Their defence is rock-solid, and winning teams in this comp usually have close to, if not the best defence. Their attack is always dangerous, and there is more to them than counter-attack.
Their depth is scary.
I think the Reds could be a real chance too, but they cannot afford to lose a few big names as that would expose them - especially Genia and Cooper. They are the most likely team to unlock a good defence.

Not really.

 

[Slim 293]

Not really.

That's true...

There's a LOT more...

 

[Maroon Army]

The Crusaders sort of scare me...

 

[Victorian Reds Fan]

That's true...

There's a LOT more...

In terms of their attack there is not.

 

[cyclopath]

Not really.

Why is superb ability to counter-attack so undervalued by you? You have posted to this effect a few times. I honestly don't get it.
Firstly, they counter so well because they hit you so hard in defence to help make themselves opportunities. Force their opposition into kicking it away
Secondly, teams tend not to be much good at counter-attack without genuine ability to attack - the skills are the same. Catch, pass, draw the man, offload, run into holes. One of their tries on the weekend was from a received kick - they had basically an entire backline ready to run it back at a set defensive line, and yet they unpicked it with a great SBW offload and good skills. They can do the same from set pieces, and have done many times.
Thirdly, they have won many matches by winning in the last few minutes by multi-phase pick and go and solid ball retention.
They have many strings to their bow.

 

[Maroon Army]

In terms of their attack there is not.

They have the best backline in the competion...

Edit: baiting?

 

[Victorian Reds Fan]

Why is superb ability to counter-attack so undervalued by you? You have posted to this effect a few times. I honestly don't get it.
Firstly, they counter so well because they hit you so hard in defence to help make themselves opportunities. Force their opposition into kicking it away
Secondly, teams tend not to be much good at counter-attack without genuine ability to attack - the skills are the same. Catch, pass, draw the man, offload, run into holes. One of their tries on the weekend was from a received kick - they had basically an entire backline ready to run it back at a set defensive line, and yet they unpicked it with a great SBW offload and good skills. They can do the same from set pieces, and have done many times.
Thirdly, they have won many matches by winning in the last few minutes by multi-phase pick and go and solid ball retention.
They have many strings to their bow.

The reason I mention it is because they are seen as the best provincial rugby club on the planet and thus their game plan forms the crux of the All Blacks. Now, there is nothing inherently wrong with scoring most of your points off 2-3 phases on turn overs, it works well at Super Rugby level, but it does not win World Cups. The All Blacks have only won a single World Cup for a reason; once they reach the final stages of the tournament teams do not often turn the ball over that provides the All Blacks with the opportunity to counter attack in open play. Deny them the ball or force them to confront a settled defence (as in from a set play and not broken play) and the All Blacks struggle. Personally I enjoyed the Brumbies at their peak when they would go through 10 + phases to score a try and it was like a chess play unfolding.

 

[Victorian Reds Fan]

Why is superb ability to counter-attack so undervalued by you? You have posted to this effect a few times. I honestly don't get it.
Firstly, they counter so well because they hit you so hard in defence to help make themselves opportunities. Force their opposition into kicking it away
Secondly, teams tend not to be much good at counter-attack without genuine ability to attack - the skills are the same. Catch, pass, draw the man, offload, run into holes. One of their tries on the weekend was from a received kick - they had basically an entire backline ready to run it back at a set defensive line, and yet they unpicked it with a great SBW offload and good skills. They can do the same from set pieces, and have done many times.
Thirdly, they have won many matches by winning in the last few minutes by multi-phase pick and go and solid ball retention.
They have many strings to their bow.

So have the All Blacks and it pains me so, lol.

 

[cyclopath]

Well, to extrapolate from the Crusaders success as to why the All Blacks have failed at World Cups (yet seem to beat the pants off pretty much everyone all the rest of the time) seems a tad fanciful to me, and is an issue that lies well outside this thread, which was about what team would win this Super Rugby comp and why. Do you really think all those titles came from flashy counter-attack only?
It seems a pretty large under-estimation of the abilities of that team.

 

[Victorian Reds Fan]

I don't deny they are a very good side, but a lot of their success is built on their counter-attacks. The Chiefs game is a great example, they were smashed in every facet, but the Chiefs made the fatal error of not kicking the ball out and the Saders scored all their points on the counter. I watched the match and just felt they won due to pure ass.

 

[ACT Crusader]

The Crusader game plan is not the crux of the AB game plan, well nor from what I've seen.

So Carter taking the line on after a scrum and getting through the defensive line is just counter attack? Or Nonu and Smith linking after a Read offload in the tackle is just counter attack? Perhaps Hore or Mealamu or Woodcock (Aussies will know about him ) scoring pies off pick and go's close to the line?

Yes we counter attack, and yes we have shown to be effective at it with the likes of Mils, Sivi, Jane, gear for example, but that is just one part of our game.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Reddy! I'm not discounting the Reds chances, but geez that Crusaders outfit has played some breathtaking and at times very gutsy football. They are by no means unbeatable, but the other teams are going to have get in and get 'em early and play probably 40-60 minutes of near perfect footy. If they have a sniff they almost invariably seem to find a way to win.

Still, the QLD boys in their present position have as good a chance as anyone. As an Aussie I'll be hoping they go as far as possible.

 

[cyclopath]

I don't deny they are a very good side, but a lot of their success is built on their counter-attacks. The Chiefs game is a great example, they were smashed in every facet, but the Chiefs made the fatal error of not kicking the ball out and the Saders scored all their points on the counter. I watched the match and just felt they won due to pure ass.

One game out of god-knows-how-many they have won over the years is the proof? Hmm, I guess we just have to disagree, so I'll leave it be. Rule 10 invoked.